The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested seventeen local fishermen for allegedly engaged in illegal fishing practices.
Naval personnel attached to Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) Headquarters in Kalpitiya arrested 17 local fishermen with 5 Fiber Glass.
Dinghies engaged in illegal fishing using banned fishing nets in the Uchchamuniya and Kimbulbokka sea areas on 13th February 2016.
The arrested persons and the items were handed over to the Assistant Director of Fisheries for further investigations, reports Lanka Page.
Seven pairs of diving fins, 5 GPSs, 18 Conch Shells and 31 Oxygen Tanks were also taken into custody during the arrest.
The use of purse seine (Laila & Surukku) nets are banned in Sri Lanka.
Earlier this month, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development said that the fishing activities carried out by using Laila and Surukku nets are strictly proscribed and if such an incident is detected, craft along with fishing gear are liable to be confiscated.